Phrase guide

keep company

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To court.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, euphemistic, idiomatic, intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • It was rumoured that the lady and the gentleman were keeping company.
  • He was keeping company with her.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To socialize.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • If you care about your reputation you ought to be careful whom you keep company with.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: consort, run with

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

be a companion to somebody

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: company, companion, accompany

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: consort, associate, affiliate, assort

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.